On the afternoon of January 31, World Relief—a prominent evangelical organization dedicated to assisting refugees globally, particularly in the United States—received an unexpected directive from the U.S. Department of State. The order instructed the charity to halt all activities under its contract with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. This announcement left many puzzled, especially as a group of Afghans who had aided American forces during the prolonged conflict were scheduled to arrive at Sacramento airport that evening. World Relief was contracted to assist with their resettlement.
“The message was clear: stop all work,” noted Matthew Soerens, the vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief. “However, we had no intention of not being at the airport. We were committed to ensuring they had a safe place to stay and a warm meal.” While greeting newcomers at the airport and providing a meal may not be a monumental task, the larger concern for World Relief lies in the uncertainty of who will cover the rent for these families over the next three months. Typically, federal funds cover this period through various partners, allowing refugees the time they need to secure employment and establish stability. Now, however, the State Department has mandated an immediate cessation of this support, raising concerns about the financial future of thousands of families that World Relief assists both domestically and internationally.
Since the new administration took office, a spending freeze and stop-work orders have been enacted across many facets of American foreign aid. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with a budget of around $40 billion—less than 1% of the federal budget—has seen funding paused for 90 days, except for a limited range of programs primarily addressing urgent hunger and medical crises. This freeze has resulted in many USAID contractors and personnel being laid off or placed on administrative leave, and the agency’s website has been shut down. Similar measures have been applied to the developmental and humanitarian initiatives of the State Department.
On February 4, shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he would temporarily oversee USAID, the majority of the agency’s staff—excluding those engaged in mission-critical roles or designated programs—were also placed on leave. Employees working in overseas missions were informed that arrangements would be made for their return to the U.S. within 30 days.
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Evangelical and various Christian charities have also felt the impact of these funding cuts. Major organizations such as World Vision, International Justice Mission, Samaritan’s Purse, and Catholic Relief Services—which was the largest recipient of USAID funding in 2024 at $476 billion—have lost significant support. Due to the ambiguous guidelines regarding which programs would receive continued funding, some charities have opted to scale back their expenditures as a precaution. “World Vision is responding to the executive order that pauses U.S. foreign assistance funding—with the exception of emergency food assistance—for the next 90 days, while programs are reviewed for alignment with the current administration’s foreign policy,” the organization stated in a communication to TIME.
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Conversely, some organizations opted to maintain their operations despite the orders. “Despite receiving suspension notices, we are continuing our work in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia,” stated a spokesperson for Medical Teams International in an email. “We’ve made this decision for now because, as a Christian organization, we prioritize the dignity and worth of every individual we serve and our staff.” Currently, only a specific part of a program in Uganda has been granted permission to continue, and the organization acknowledges the possibility of not being reimbursed for their other initiatives.
“Our understanding is that essential emergency supplies are exempt from the stop order,” remarked Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, in a statement to TIME. “However, the specifics of the waiver process remain unclear.” He went on to explain that his organization, which depends on USAID for less than 5% of its international aid budget, plans to proceed with projects in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia.
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Some organizations have allies within the Trump Administration or State Department and are attempting to navigate back channels to gain clarity on the future of USAID and its funded projects. Others are advocating for the President to reconsider his stance. “If President Trump believes that evangelical Christians want secure borders, he is correct,” Soerens stated. “However, if he thinks that evangelicals want to deny entry to thoroughly vetted refugees, many of whom are persecuted Christians, he is mistaken.”
Although 80% of white evangelicals cast their votes for Trump, Soerens highlights a recent survey conducted by LifeWay Research, the polling arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, which indicates that 70% of U.S. evangelicals believe the nation has a moral obligation to accept refugees. This sentiment may explain why, in the fortnight since the funding freeze, World Relief has raised $3 million, primarily from small donors. However, this amount falls short of covering the three months of rent that the government had pledged. “Around 4,000 individuals are being invited to the United States, with travel arrangements already made by the government,” he emphasizes. “This situation is fundamentally different from other immigration discussions.” The organization anticipates an $8 million shortfall in its budget if the U.S. government continues to withhold rent support for legal refugees.
For Christians engaged with USAID, the stop-work orders and funding suspensions, along with ongoing criticism of the agency’s efforts from figures like Elon Musk—who labeled it “evil”—and Trump adviser Stephen Miller, represent a significant betrayal of what they see as a sacred mission. “I’m dedicated to doing my part as the hands and feet of God in this world,” expressed Anne Linn, who has dedicated her career to combating malaria, working both on the ground in various African nations and in Washington, D.C. “What can I do to ease the suffering of others, my neighbors?” She experienced a layoff on Friday when her contract with the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative was terminated, much like the situation faced by World Relief.
Linn recognizes that many Americans believe that countries afflicted by malaria should assume responsibility for their own healthcare rather than relying heavily on U.S. aid. “Those nations desire that as well,” she acknowledges. “However, a considerable portion of their GDP is allocated to servicing debt. We must provide them with a launching pad; it can’t happen overnight.” With the rainy season approaching in several affected countries, Linn is concerned that mosquitoes will soon arrive, but the bed nets needed to combat malaria are stuck in warehouses, and those contracted to deliver them are also facing stop-work orders. She is particularly worried about vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and children under five, who are at high risk of malaria. “How can one read the teachings of Jesus Christ and find this acceptable?” she questions. “It’s unfathomable to me. If we claim to be pro-life, we cannot accept this situation.”
